Bolt Extractor vs Screw Extractor: Which One Should You Buy?
Bolt extractors vs screw extractors: two socket-style bolt extractor sets and two screw extractor sets compared by bite, sizes, drive and warranty.
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Top picks at a glance
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DPTOOL Lug Nut Extractor Set9.7/10View on Amazon - 2
Irwin Tools IRWIN Screw Extractor/ Drill Bit Set9.6/10View on Amazon - 3
Screw Extractor Set9.6/10View on Amazon - 4
CRAFTSMAN CMMT14108 Spiral Screw ExtractorView on Amazon - 5
CRAFTSMAN Screw ExtractorView on Amazon - 6
TOPEC Damaged Screw Extractor SetView on Amazon - 7
19 Piece Easy Out Screw Extractor Set and Left Hand DrillView on Amazon - 8
Gifts for MenView on Amazon
Verdict: In the bolt extractor vs screw extractor choice, choose bolt extractors when the fastener is a bolt or nut with a rounded or damaged head you can grab from the outside: the XEWEA and PLATINUMEDGE sets are socket-style extractors on 3/8 inch drives. Choose screw extractors when the fastener is a screw, or a bolt broken off flush: the Lisle instructions call for a drilled pilot hole, and the Mayhew’s fluted edges cut into the screw shaft.
A rounded bolt head and a snapped-off screw are two different failures, and they need two different tools. Bolt extractors grab the outside of the fastener like a socket; screw extractors bite into the fastener itself, with the Lisle instructions calling for a drilled pilot hole. This comparison covers the bolt extractor vs screw extractor choice, then two example sets of each from the listings we reviewed.
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Mayhew Tools 37332 Screw Extractor Set, 5-Piece
A 5-piece screw extractor set in black oxide tool steel, made in the USA, with fluted cutting edges for screw sizes 1/4 in to 5/8 in and a Lifetime warranty.
Pros
- Made in the USA, black oxide finish
- Fluted cutting edges cut into the screw shaft
- Covers 1/8 to 3/8 in diameter for screws 1/4 to 5/8 in
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- No storage case, ships in a pouch
- 4.5 ounces, the lightest build here
- 5 pieces, the smallest set here
- No stated impact rating
Lisle 61980 Strip Screw Extract, 10 Piece , Black
A 10-piece screw extractor set in alloy steel that fits Torx T-10 to T-55 and internal hex 7/64 in to 3/8 in, with a Lifetime warranty that does not cover abuse.
Pros
- Fits Torx T-10 to T-55 and Torx Plus heads
- Fits internal hex 7/64 in to 3/8 in and 3mm to 10mm
- Hex shank, spiral design
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- No storage case stated on the listing
- Requires a drilled pilot hole first
- 8.8 ounces, heavier than the Mayhew
- Warranty does not cover abuse
XEWEA 14PCS 3/8" Drive Impact Bolt Nut Extractor
A 14-piece bolt extractor set in impact-grade chrome-molybdenum steel with reverse spiral flutes on a 3/8 inch drive, in a blow-molded case.
Pros
- 14 extractors, no filler pieces, all precision-machined
- Impact-grade Cr-Mo steel for high-torque work
- Reverse spiral flutes bite tighter as you turn
- Blow-molded case included
Cons
- No warranty term stated on the listing
- Spec table lists Support: Lifetime, not a warranty
- 14 pieces, heavier kit to carry
- No stated jaw capacity
13 Pieces Impact Bolt & Nut Remover Set Stripped
A 13-piece bolt and nut remover set in Cr-Mo steel with reverse spiral flutes on a 3/8 inch drive, in a heavy-duty blow-molded case.
Pros
- 13 sizes from 1/4 in to 3/4 in with readable marks
- Cr-Mo steel, jaw capacity 0.75 inches
- Standard 3/8 inch square drive
- Heavy-duty blow-molded case
Cons
- No warranty term stated on the listing
- Listing advises against impact mode
- 13 pieces, one fewer than the XEWEA
- No stated impact rating
More options to compare
CRAFTSMAN CMMT14108 Spiral Screw ExtractorCheck price on Amazon
CRAFTSMAN Screw ExtractorCheck price on Amazon
TOPEC Damaged Screw Extractor SetCheck price on Amazon
19 Piece Easy Out Screw Extractor Set and Left Hand DrillCheck price on Amazon
Gifts for MenCheck price on Amazon
Side by side
| Bolt extractor side | Screw extractor side | |
|---|---|---|
| How it grips | Reverse spiral flutes bite the outside of the bolt | Fluted edges bite into a drilled pilot hole |
| Fasteners | Stripped, rounded, rusted bolts and nuts | Broken, seized, stripped screws and bolts |
| Sizes | 1/4 to 3/4 in (both sets) | Mayhew: 1/8 to 3/8 in diameter; Lisle: T-10 to T-55 |
| Pieces | 13 and 14 | 5 and 10 |
| Drive | 3/8 inch square drive | Hand powered |
| Warranty | None stated | Lifetime (both) |
| Storage | Blow-molded case (both) | Pouch (Mayhew); not stated (Lisle) |
Example figures are manufacturer rated, as published on each listing and collected 22 October 2026.
Bolt extractor vs screw extractor: how each side bites
The bolt extractor sets here are socket-style: the PLATINUMEDGE 13-piece and the XEWEA 14-piece both use reverse spiral flutes that bite down on the outside of a stripped, rounded or rusted bolt or nut, on a standard 3/8 inch square drive. The screw extractor sets work from the inside: the Mayhew 5-piece uses precision fluted cutting edges that cut into the screw shaft, and the Lisle 10-piece fits into Torx, Torx Plus and internal hex drive heads. The Lisle listing tells you to drill a pilot hole for the appropriate size extractor, choose the extractor that fits snugly, and turn counter-clockwise.
Sizes and range
The bolt extractor sets cover 1/4 in to 3/4 in: the PLATINUMEDGE lists thirteen sizes from 1/4 in to 3/4 in, and the XEWEA lists fourteen from 1/4 in to 3/4 in. The screw extractor sets are measured differently: the Mayhew covers 1/8 in to 3/8 in diameter extractors for screw sizes 1/4 in to 5/8 in, and the Lisle fits Torx and Torx Plus sizes T-10 to T-55 plus internal hex sizes 7/64 in to 3/8 in and 3mm to 10mm. Match the set to the fastener in front of you, not to the bigger number.
Drive and use
Both bolt extractor sets run on a standard 3/8 inch square drive. The PLATINUMEDGE listing names hand ratchets, impact wrenches and air ratchets; the XEWEA listing names impact wrenches and ratchets. The PLATINUMEDGE listing advises a hand tool for best control, a low-torque setting on an electric tool, and no impact mode, to avoid damaging the tool or the vehicle. The Mayhew set is hand powered per its spec table and ships as a pouch set for automotive, mechanical and repair work; the Lisle set turns with hand tools on its hex shank, and its listing notes it may be necessary to drive the extractor into the fastener with a hammer for maximum torque in some applications.
Materials and finish
All four sets are steel, but the listings name different alloys. The PLATINUMEDGE and XEWEA sets are chrome-molybdenum steel, with the XEWEA called out as impact-grade for high-torque work. The Mayhew set is hardened tool steel with a black oxide finish, made in the USA. The Lisle set is alloy steel with a metal finish. The PLATINUMEDGE lists a jaw capacity of 0.75 inches. None of the four states an impact rating, so treat the XEWEA’s impact-grade claim as the maker’s own wording, not a standard.
Storage
Both bolt extractor sets ship in blow-molded cases: heavy-duty on the PLATINUMEDGE, sturdy and durable on the XEWEA. The Mayhew screw extractors ship in a pouch, which suits a toolbox drawer but not a truck bed. The Lisle listing states no case or pouch. A set that lives in one case gets used; loose extractors get lost.
Warranty
The screw extractor side wins on paper here: the Mayhew set carries a Lifetime warranty and the Lisle set carries a Lifetime warranty that does not cover abuse. Neither bolt extractor set states a warranty term. The XEWEA spec table lists Support: Lifetime, which is not a warranty statement, so it counts as none stated.
Example extractors
For more choices, see the best bolt extractor set and the best screw extractor set.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can a bolt extractor remove a screw?
Bolt extractors are socket-style tools that grip the outside of a bolt or nut, so they suit fasteners with a head to grab. A screw with a stripped drive, or a bolt broken off flush, needs a screw extractor that bites into a drilled pilot hole.
Do I have to drill before using a screw extractor?
The Lisle listing says to drill a pilot hole for the appropriate size extractor, choose the extractor that fits snugly in the fastener, and turn counter-clockwise. The Mayhew set’s fluted cutting edges then cut into the screw shaft for the bite.
What size range do these sets cover?
The bolt extractor sets cover 1/4 in to 3/4 in. The Mayhew screw extractors run 1/8 in to 3/8 in diameter for screw sizes 1/4 in to 5/8 in, and the Lisle set fits Torx T-10 to T-55, internal hex 7/64 in to 3/8 in and 3mm to 10mm.
Which sets have a warranty?
The Mayhew 5-piece states a Lifetime warranty and the Lisle 10-piece states a Lifetime warranty that does not cover abuse. The PLATINUMEDGE 13-piece and XEWEA 14-piece list no warranty term.
Impact wrench or hand ratchet?
The PLATINUMEDGE listing advises a hand tool for best control, a low-torque setting if you use an electric tool, and no impact mode. The screw extractor sets are hand powered, with the Lisle noting a hammer tap may be needed to seat the extractor.
Which set covers the most sizes?
The XEWEA 14-piece covers 1/4 in to 3/4 in with no filler pieces, one more size than the PLATINUMEDGE 13-piece. On the screw side, the Lisle 10-piece spans T-10 to T-55 plus hex sizes, against the Mayhew’s five dedicated screw sizes. Count the sizes you will actually use, not the total in the case.
Related: the best bolt extractor set, the best screw extractor set and the engine and shop equipment hub.
